Full iTunes Store en route to Russia for 2009?

updated 09:10 am EDT, Mon October 6, 2008

by MacNN Staff

Russian iTunes Store

At least some Russians could finally have normal access to the iTunes Store in 2009, reports say. While Macs, iPods and now iPhones are on sale in the country, Apple's online media storefront has been conspicuously absent, with the exception of the App Store. Music and/or video could be coming soon through an unusual deal with one of Russia's iPhone carriers, writes RBC Daily.

The Russian paper quotes Vasily Kuzichev, MegaFon's business development director, as saying that negotiations with Apple are "near completion" for a unique deal, which would see iTunes media available to carrier's subscribers, rather than the general public. Prices are the major obstacle, according to Kuzichev. "The biggest problem at this point is that content in Russia is more expensive than in some other countries," he says, "and the prices iTunes is considering for content in this country doesn't satisfy copyright owners, who think they are too low."

Other carriers are said to possibly be in talks with Apple, but much further from any arrangements.

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